Novelty tie clasp



June 22, 1937. R J, MANKER 2,084,738

NOVELTY TIE CLASP Filed June 22, 1956 INVENTOR Fay d. Wanker FAMXQLW ATTORNEYS.

Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2 Claims.

This invention relates to an article possessing an attractive design for novelty and souvenir purposes and adapted at the same time to perform a useful function as a tie clasp.

5 The desire of those who have witnessed an important event or those who are patrons of some national sport for novelties and souvenirs symbolizing the eventor sport is well known. It is generally characteristic of these novelties that they provide no other useful function than indicating or recalling to the purchasers of such novelties the particular event or game which they are designed to represent. An important object of this invention is to provide an article which not only symbolizes a national sport but also at the same time is adapted to perform a useful mechanical function as a tie clasp for keeping a tie in placeupon a person.

That part of the tie clasp which will be exposed to view is constructed in the form of a miniature base ball bat. The bat is of a length substantially that of the width of an ordinary tie at its widest part. The wearer is able to adjust the clasp upon the tie so that the exposed bat portion will partake of any angle the wearer desires. The bat may more closely follow the sport of base ball by being constructed of wood and,

if desired, stained or varnished so that it has a luster similar to the regular sized base ball bats. An important feature of the invention is its simplicity. The clasp preferably consists of only two parts, the base ball bat portion and a flexible element adapted to secure the bat to the tie and. shirt of a person and be concealed therein. The

5 device can be very economically produced in quantities and sold at a nominal price. Its useful character as a tie clasp increases its attractive qualities.

Various other objects, advantages and meritorious features will become more fully apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view of the tie clasp partly broken away to show the interior construction, and

Fig. 2 is a view showing the manner in which the tie clasp is worn upon a person.

The tie clasp is preferably constructed of two parts. These parts are indicated in Fig. 1 as consisting of a miniature baseball bat I0 and an element l2 adapted to cooperate with the bat for retaining a tie in place upon a person. The bat I0 is preferably constructed of wood as illustrated but may, if desired, be constructed of metal or ,any other substance. As indicated in Fig. 2 the bat ID has a length which approximates the normal width of a tie at its widest part. When worn upon a person the bat is exposed to view while the fastening means is hidden from view.

The element I0 is preferably a flexible metal wire. It is bent adjacent one end as indicated at M in Fig. 1 and the shorter end is forced axially into the larger end of the base ball bat. A small hole may be first drilled in the larger end of the bat to receive one end of the wire element. This hole should be of a size to provide a tight fit for the element. When the small end of the wire ele ment is forced into the bat, the bent portion l4 should be shaped so that clearance is provided between the wire element and the larger end of the bat. This will allow the tie and a part of the shirt to which the tie is secured to be received in this part of the clasp.

The major portion of the wire element 10 extends alongside of the bat. It is preferably curved so that a part l6 yieldingly contacts the side of the bat. The free end iii of the element is flared outward from the bat and forms in conjunction with the handle of the bat an entranceway into which the tie or any other cloth material can be forced. When the tie has entered between the bat and the wire element, the flexible character of the latter yieldingly pinches the tie against the side of the bat and acts to retain the clasp in fixed position on the tie.

The principle of the invention may be incorporated in a mechanical pencil. The miniature base ball bat could be divided into sections rotatable relative to one another as in the customary mechanical pencil. The sectional character of such a bat could be concealed in the following manner:

The handle portion could be colored or painted to simulate tape which is quite often wound around the handles of regular sized bats in order to provide a better grip. The division between the sections of the mechanical pencil could be arranged to occur at the ends of the taped section. The lead in the pencil could be arranged to extend out of the small end of the bat. The fastening element l2 could be of flat spring construction spot welded to the larger end of the bat.

Names, initials, or .emblems denoting various base ball teams can be stamped or burned upon the surface of the bat. Advertising matter likewise can be carried upon the bat.

What I claim:

1. A tie clasp comprising, in combination, an element composed of wood having a length substantially that of the widest part of a tie and a major width at one end thereof of less than one half of an inch, said element tapering from its widest portion at one end thereof to its narrowest portion adjacent the other end thereof, and a flexible metal wire having one end extending axially into the larger end of said element while the major portion of the length of said wire is arranged toextend closely adjacent to the side of said element, said wire beng curved along its major length so that a part thereof yieldingly contacts the side of said element.

2. A tie clasp comprising, in combination, a cylindrical element composed of wood having a length substantially that of the widest part of a. necktie, said wooden cylindrical element having a major diameter at one end thereof of approximately one-eighth to one-tenthof the length of the element and tapering from said end to its narrowest diameter adjacent the other end thereof, and a flexible metal wire having one end v thereof axially fixed in the larger end of said element and bent adjacent its point of entrance into the element so that the major length of the Wire extends closely adjacent to the side of said ele- 

